Hull 1-0 Leyton Orient

Bewildered Leyton Orient were swept aside by a tide of emotion as Hull City's victory hammered home just why professional football must survive in one of the game's forgotten cities.

Rodney Rowe, just one of Hull's playing staff yet to be paid so far this year, demonstrated his commitment to the cause by drilling home his first goal in Hull colours.

His strike gives City's long-suffering support a brief respite to the club's financial woes.

Hull's fans crammed onto Boothferry Park's crumbling terraces, swelling the attendance to nearly 9,000 - easily the best at the ground this season.

It seems inconceivable that a club obviously held dear to the hearts of so many, is now teetering on the brink of closure.

Hull have been able to sustain an outside interest in the play-offs.

Stubborn

This has been despite an alarming nose-dive in form over the New Year, and the door to a top-seven finish was kept ajar after four points from their last two away games.

It was Hull, seeking their first home win since November, who edged a scrappy first half.

Towering Kevin Francis headed just wide from Lee Philpotts' inswinging corner, and moments later Ian Goodison failed to convert a diving header from a similar position.

Promotion chasers Leyton Orient were frustrated by an inability to break Hull's stubborn rearguard, and the first half was forgettable .

In the second half Hull came out with all guns blazing, with Mark Greaves coming close to converting two half chances, both resulting from Lee Philpott's pinpoint crosses.

However with time ticking away, Hull breached the visiting defence, as Rowe latched on to Justin Whittle's header, and after shaking off Simon Downer, he sent the terraces wild with a cracking right foot finish.

The Tigers were forced to survive a nervous closing period, and Orient were denied a seemingly clear-cut penalty, when substitute David Brightwell clumsily up-ended Wim Walschaerts.

The day though was about more than the result for Hull City, and one fan's banner said it all: "Do not let the Tigers become an endangered species".

---

Hull: Musselwhite, Edwards, Harper, Whittle, Goodison, Swales, Greaves, Brabin, Philpott, Francis, Rowe. Subs: Bracey, Mann, Brown, Brightwell, Marcelle.

Leyton Orient: Bayes, Joseph, Smith, McGhee, Downer, Harris, Martin, Brkovic, Walschaerts, Griffiths, Pinamonte. Subs: Barrett, Watts, Houghton, McElholm, Beall.

Referee: A Butler (Sutton-in-Ashfield)